Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-10-15

y EV EN1Nd SlAhs w
being white and the brides colored This Is the
largest humber OF marriages reported 10 this o1oe
In any one aye;r ance Its present gannation;
0r .ns s; tine Of son IL n
nu%Ser Of cciOrsd. both brides ana eroons were
time. me foreign element represented in these
connections amounted 70 %. out Of an aggregate
O. 81 Loo Only ccupss Of whites s1a
who were Of nfsy ysars o. sse and upward
DTv0RCk
The subject Of divorce the report says has as
sumed phase Of great importance. In view Of the
greatly -inceased number OF divorces granted BY
the courts OF the country within the past few
years No records Of those allowed BY the courts
OF the District OF Columbia are now kept except
cts 10 connection with the proceedings. Next TO
marriage. divorce has . direct bearing upon the
s y. ne social relations Should
oe remedied BY placing the issuing Of licenses
within the jurisdiction OF the health ONCE, then
return TO the health ocer OF each divorce granted.
the record OF vital statistics In relation TO mar
mage and divorce, as wen a. Of life and death.
told value to the public
THE MEDICAL SANITARY INSPECTORS REPORT.
With the health Onlcer's report Is submitted that
Of Dr. BenJ O. Pool the medical sanitary inspector,
who says; That In 90 far as we consider the prev.
alence OF disease and the mortality returns. the
The annual death.rate has been lower than for
any year during the last twelve. While cholera,
occurring epideInicalIy In various parts Of the
world our fair city has been spared the visit Of
single case OF either OF these dreaded diseases.
In April 1S83, since which no systematic method
OF vaccination has been In vogue, consequently
arr no% II she set maay 81
for an epidemic; Cases Of this disease are con-
stantly existing n our neighbO1ng cities and the
ties Ior travel are liable at any time to be intro
duced among ua Therefore. DR.. Pool says, II seems
necessary and proper that steps should De taken
TO secure q more general vaccination and revacci-
that haste and danger which are incidental
health officer ask that q proper Conveyance and
two able bodied men be placed at the disposal OF
the health department TO move the remains OF
others willing Or able to assist in their removal.
TIE RECORD OF MARRIAGES.
In closing his report, DR.. Pool says: my ex-
perience In the supervision OF the registration OF
births, marriages and deaths leads me to believe
In re gard to marriages that II the contracting
csnse to marry Instead 81 oPt to the clerk Of the
court as at present. the data necessary for record
and Of v ma
clergyman's certificate, should then be issued to
the minister selected to perform the marriage
able TO follow up the license and complete the
record. AS 1t is at present Mr.. Thomas. Richard,
or Henry can, by paying 81, obtain q license from
the clerk OF the court, permitting any minister or
other qualified person, TO marry any one In the
directory, while no means exist BY which 1t can be
ascertained whether the license has been used TOT
consider II the proper thing to make return, and
does not forget TO do 30. the court license s the
court was the only place OF public record; but
now 1t Is useless, leads to confusion as to the legal
requirements OF those making returns and inter.
fercS with proper collection OF records In this
important branch OF vital statisticA"
THE INSPECTION OF PLUMBING
The report OF Mr.. Saml A. Robinson, the inspec-
tor OF plumbing, also accompanies that OF the
health ofdcer. This report after presenting q
summary Of the operations Of the ONCE 10 inspect
ing plans OF plumbing for 800 new buildings &C.,
and visiting the houses. gives an account OF the
organization and operations or the board to revise
The Work, the report says, is Progressing With
raising the standard Of all employers. Those who
have been given an extension OF time TO prepare
for another hearing before the board, and upon
final action It. Is presumed that every deserving
"It Is well for ali those who engage in
this important business" Mr.. Robinson says,
as operative PLUMBERS an intelligent appreciation
OF physical laws OF hygiene, and a rull apprecia-
ton OF the moral side OF their duties, and IL Is
hoped this effort OF the Commissioners will event.
ualy receive the full support OF every respectable
plumb In this District. In my last report ! re-
ierred TO the examination l bad made OF the
plumbing and drainage OF the old school build
ingS. and noted some or the more serious defects
found In their construction. since That tine many
improvements have been made In accordance with
my recommendations An appropriation OF $15, OOO
was asked Tor TO do fhe work OF recOnstrucLing
the plumbing In all aese buildings, and $40 100
was allowed. BY dici0us Infringement On the
part Oftne inspector OF buildings all those Schools
been reInodel,ed."
"N0thing has been done" the report says. ito
remedy the deplorably defective condition OF the
drainage In the buildings occupied by the General
Government. Every EFFORT has been made by this
ONCE, and those In authority In the Departments
to bring about q reconstruction OF the plumbing
work, but Congress seems not TO appreciate the
servants VINO nave so long been compelled to
breathe this polluted atmosphere. The result
must be fatal The evil Ii allowed 10
exist because It's drst manifestations are not
In form that appals and terrtnes Its
approach Is slow and insidi0ua At length, the
balanced, or diseased, powers OF usefulness de-
stroyeJ, are the fatal results OF few years spent
in the poisonous atmosphere OF our Government
buildings. These statements are no eXaggerAt1on
OF the evil, for exaggeration Is impossible. few
OF our leading hoCels have made changes In tine
plumbing fixtures, with partial ventilation, when
somewhat improves their sanitary cOndlliOn, but
factory, or that would entiue them TO certificate
OF 8pprOval from this ONCE"